The Cult of Sutek Read online

  White foam oozed out of Thabit’s gaping mouth. Blood trickled from his nose, eyes, and ears. It poured out of a gash in the man’s throat.

  “You tried to save the man by slicing his throat?” Rondel asked.

  “No. I tried to cut a hole in his windpipe but the whole thing closed up.”

  “That’s a big hole.”

  “I got frustrated.”

  “You could have used that frustration to help me kill the last of his goons,” Rondel snapped.

  “You need to learn how to get out of those situations without my help or that of little boys.”

  “And what if I had died?”

  Jahi interrupted with the tone of a mother lecturing her children. “Can you two finish arguing later? It would help if you checked for the markings of the cult while I look through what little I managed to save from the fire.”

  The boy went back to sifting through piles of ash and blackened parchment, setting anything that could actually be read off to the side.

  Andrasta pulled out a dagger and sliced through the robes and trousers at Thabit’s legs. Rondel knew that it mattered little what was on the legs of the others. If Thabit had been marked by the cult, then they would have more than enough proof to connect him to the events at the celebration.

  And after all of this, I don’t see how he can’t be.

  Andrasta exposed a tattooed inner thigh. The skull seemed simple at first glance, but the longer Rondel stared at it, the more it radiated dread. He looked away, out of breath.

  “It’s there,” said Rondel, clearing his throat of the shakiness it held.

  Jahi said nothing as he continued his search, seeming to grow more frustrated as the moments passed. He stood and kicked at an overturned chair.

  “That bad?” Rondel asked.

  “Well, there’s proof that he had a hand in stealing from my father’s treasury.”

  “That’s good.”

  “I suppose. But there is nothing here that tells me where they took Dendera.” Jahi’s chin sunk to his chest.

  Rondel came over and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “We did learn something of value before we came in. Thabit was getting his orders from Menetnashte and he spoke about catching up with others who are already outside of the city. They must have gotten out with Dendera before the city was shut down. We can give that lead to your father’s guards to pursue.”

  “No. They won’t leave Girga without my father’s say so, regardless of the reason. Those that listened to me tonight did so because they thought it would help catch the real assassins. Their first duty is to Father.” Jahi shook his head. “It could be days or longer before Father wakes to tell them to go after Dendera. By that point, who knows where she’ll be.”

  “If I had money to wager, I’d say Menetnashte’s territory,” said Rondel.

  “My guess too,” said Andrasta.

  Jahi sighed through his closed teeth. “That presents another problem. Without King Kafele and the others Father was counting on, he doesn’t have the men to enter Menetnashte’s lands to demand Dendera’s return. He would have to send a letter and inquire what the man knows. Menetnashte will obviously deny any knowledge of the situation, and all the while only the gods know what will happen to her.”

  He paused. “It’s possible that even with Thabit’s obvious association with the Cult of Sutek, Menetnashte will take Thabit’s death as an act of aggression.”

  “Then we need to get to our horses and go after those outside the city before we lose their trail,” said Andrasta.

  Rondel raised an eyebrow. “You want to keep helping him?”

  “So long as he pays us.”

  “Of course,” said Jahi. “But Girga is locked down.”

  “Can’t you get us past the guards?”

  “No. If I show who I am, they will take me back to the house and arrest you both again for kidnapping me.”

  “There has to be another way out the city,” said Andrasta. “Some back way only you know about. Like the dungeons.”

  Jahi snorted. “If there is, I was never told.”

  Rondel racked his brain for a solution. He dismissed several options, returning back to the one he least wanted to pursue. “I know of a way.”

  Both looked at him. “You do?”

  “Yes. But it’s been a while. It might not be easy to get to.”

  “Better than nothing,” said Andrasta.

  “And we won’t be able to take the horses with us.”

  Andrasta shrugged. “We can figure that part out later.”

  Rondel blew out a long breath. “All right.”

  * * *

  They barely missed the guards upon leaving the inn. In hindsight, Andrasta realized they had grown careless after a successful fight. She couldn’t let herself make that same mistake again.

  Racing through the city, they followed Rondel’s lead. The man moved with purpose. He went out of his way to pass by several merchants who were finally closing their stalls shortly before dawn.

  Without pausing, Rondel stole a blue silk shirt from one of the merchants and a half-full skin of water from another.

  What is he up to?

  After several more blocks, Rondel came to an abrupt halt and began pacing, trying to catch his breath while taking off the armor and clothes of his upper body. He threw them to Andrasta. “Hold those.”

  “I’m not your servant.”

  “By the gods, I don’t have time to argue. Just do it.”

  Andrasta started at his outburst and did as he asked, too surprised to respond.

  I’ve never seen him this focused before.

  Rondel uncapped the water skin and poured it over his head and torso, rubbing vigorously with his hands. He shivered. “That was colder than I expected.”

  Andrasta held onto Rondel’s things. “What are you doing?”

  “Getting ready.” Rondel grabbed his old shirt and used it to pat himself dry. He then slipped the deep blue shirt over his head and began fixing his wet hair as best as he could manage.

  “Ready for what?” asked Jahi.

  Rondel ignored the question. “How do I look?”

  “Not nearly as ridiculous as I expected in that shirt,” said Andrasta.

  “Good enough.” He turned up the street. “It’s just half a block down. When we get there, let me do all the talking.”

  They stopped again in front of a large, lavish residence surrounded by others just as grand. Bright torches illuminated the vibrant blues and greens painted onto the smooth outer walls protecting the home. Lush gardens filled with exotic plants not known to Iget flourished inside the iron gates. Andrasta heard the sound of a bubbling pool somewhere inside.

  Rondel stood tall and knocked on the gate. A young, sleepy-eyed guard materialized.

  “What are you doing making all that racket? Don’t you know what time it is?” said the man.

  Rondel cleared his throat, speaking once again in the voice Andrasta heard him use when telling tales at Horus’s celebration. “Of course I do. Now run along and call for the lady of the residence. The beautiful Jamila is expecting me.”

  “Is she now? And who should I tell her is calling.”

  Rondel hesitated. “Tell her that her wild stallion is looking to be tamed.”

  Andrasta snorted just as the guard’s eyes bugged. Still, after a shake of the head, he disappeared.

  “Wild stallion?” asked Jahi.

  “I said no talking,” snapped Rondel.

  A short while later, the guard reappeared and unlocked the gate. He spoke in a low voice, confused. “Uh, her ladyship will see you in the drawing room. She said you knew where that was.”

  “Yes, of course. Thank you.”

  Rondel marched through the garden along a cobbled path until reaching a half-open door to the home. He paused and gathered himself before slipping inside.

  Before Andrasta could even make it in behind Rondel a loud voice cried out.

  “Oh, Rondel! You’
re free. Well, of course you are. I never believed that you could do something as sinister as kidnapping a young girl.”

  A large woman with wide legs ran across the drawing room and practically dove into Rondel’s arms. The two collided with a stone column, which Andrasta was sure was the only thing preventing them from crashing to the floor.

  The woman pressed herself against Rondel and began groping the man like Andrasta and Jahi weren’t there. “And I just knew you couldn’t stay away. You know, I thought you were avoiding me at the dinner.”

  Rondel’s hand came up to stroke her cheek, fingers running down her thick double chin and resting on her meaty shoulder. “My sweet, beautiful princess. I could never avoid someone as breathtaking as you.”

  Andrasta rolled her eyes. You’ve got to be kidding me.

  “You still say the sweetest things. I love you so much. I always have.”

  Rondel leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “I know, my dear.”

  She leaned in close, lowering her voice though Andrasta heard every word. “We can go upstairs while your . . . friends grab a bite to eat in the kitchen.”

  Rondel cleared his throat. “I would love nothing better, but I cannot. We are on a secret quest.” He gestured to Jahi. “One we must begin right away.”

  “But—”

  Rondel put a finger to Jamila’s lips then removed it and kissed her with sincere passion.

  I’m going to be sick.

  He pulled away. “I know it’s hard, my love. But we must go. That will have to be enough to sustain us until I return. Then we can finish what we started.”

  “But I—”

  “Please, my love. For me?”

  Jamila smiled wide and finally released her hold on him. Andrasta couldn’t have been more thankful.

  “I assume you’re here to use the hidden passage in the basement?” she asked, disappointed.

  Hidden passage?

  “Yes, my love. Even after all these years, you know me better than anyone. It’s as if you can read my thoughts.”

  Jamila blushed slightly, her attitude improving.

  Rondel continued. “Will you take us to it?” He turned to Andrasta as Jamila led them through her home. “The passage leads to an underground river that supplies the city with water.”

  “And you’ve used it before, I assume?” Andrasta asked.

  “More than once.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, sometimes it made sense to sneak away rather than draw undue attention from an upset noble.”

  Jahi asked. “Why were they upset?”

  Rondel hesitated. “Another time.”

  On their way downstairs, Jamila agreed to deliver a coded message from Jahi to the captain of his father’s guard that would let him know they had left the city. Also along the way, Rondel sweet-talked the woman into providing them with supplies for their journey.

  The entrance to the underground passage was hidden in the far corner of the home’s cellar behind several sacks of flour. Andrasta paused there and spoke to Jamila for the first time. “It’s important that no one knows we used this passage.”

  Jamila scowled as if insulted. “They will get nothing from me. Let them torture my body all they like for it will be painless. My mind, my heart, and my soul will be enveloped in the love of my sweet Rondel.”

  Rondel smiled with such genuineness, Andrasta would have sworn him equally as smitten. She rolled her eyes.

  “My sweet, beautiful princess.” He took her hand. “Each night before I sleep, when I gaze into the night sky, your face will be the one I see in the stars, and will be the last thing I think of before falling asleep. We may be apart, but in my dreams you and I will be together.” He bent over and kissed her hand. “When I return, I promise never to leave your side again.”

  Beside Andrasta, Jahi made a slight gagging sound.

  My thoughts exactly.

  The woman melted, throwing herself at the former minstrel, flooding him with kisses. If not for Andrasta and Jahi’s presence, it was doubtful Rondel would have made it out in one piece.

  They descended into the passage, with a single torch for light. After some time, Jahi broke the silence.

  “Why would Jamila find it appealing to eat fruit off your body? Sounds gross to me.”

  “You heard that?” asked Rondel, choking in shock.

  Andrasta chuckled in part at the boy’s naivety, but more at Rondel’s discomfort. “Yes, Rondel, why would she want to do that?”

  “Uh, well . . . .”

  Jahi continued. “And what about that thing you were talking about doing with your tongue and her ears? Or your tongue and—”

  “Whoa. Enough. I know what I told her. It doesn’t need repeating. I didn’t mean for you to hear all that stuff,” said Rondel, cutting him off.

  “Well, I did.”

  “Obviously.” He paused, clearing his throat. “Look, it’s not for me to be the one to tell you about those things. You’ll have to learn about them when you’re older.”

  Jahi grumbled. “That’s the same thing my father’s guards tell me when I hear them whispering to the servants.”

  Andrasta chuckled again.

  They made their way through the underground river and outside of the city without incident.

  Andrasta picked up the trail of Dendera’s captors after talking to a few people who pointed them in the right direction. The citizens trapped outside of Girga had spotted a small group rushing out of the city on horseback just before the guards closed the gates.

  Running down the road beside Rondel, Andrasta finally spoke. “Did you mean any of the things you told that woman?”

  “Gods, no. I know I’m not half the man I once was, but she is at least twice the woman she used to be.”

  “Then how did you keep a straight face? It was so . . .”

  “Convincing?” Rondel snorted. “I told you I was a great entertainer.”

  Andrasta grunted. “I’m beginning to see that.”

  Maybe I haven’t given him enough credit after all.

  Chapter 8

  Jahi’s body hurt in places he didn’t know could hurt from all the running. He had never been one to play physical games with boys his age. They never worked out well, him being the son of a king. One of two things would happen—the boys he’d play with wouldn’t try very hard, and therefore let him win, or worse, they’d look for ways to beat and humiliate him. He had learned that it was best to just focus on his studies.

  He enjoyed those more anyway.

  He was not so lazy to forsake all physical activity though. His father made sure he participated in combat drills led by the captain of the guard. He never expected Jahi to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with men in battle. However, Horus made the point many times over that a ruler who appeared too soft or frail would not be respected in the same way as one who at least maintained the illusion he could fight.

  Seeing the wisdom in his father’s words, Jahi had trained religiously each day. Often he felt good, almost refreshed, when the sessions ended, a welcome break to the hours at his books.

  Just a day ago, Jahi would have considered his conditioning to be good, definitely above adequate. However, after running beside Rondel and Andrasta through Girga and then outside the city, he realized his conditioning paled in comparison to theirs.

  Are my father’s guards inept? Or have they been going easy on me all this time? Jahi knew the answer and it stung. They didn’t think I could handle the training. How many jokes have been told at my expense?

  After hours of travel Andrasta finally called for a rest. The woman’s breathing appeared labored but not as ragged as Jahi expected, especially since she wore armor and carried most of their supplies. Even Rondel appeared to be in better shape than Jahi would have expected. He bent over for a few moments to catch his breath, but stood quickly and walked around the clearing, performing a series of odd stretches.

  It took Jahi much longer to stand, having collapsed on
ce his legs stopped moving. They began to seize on him. Cramps had him groaning between heaving up the contents of his stomach.

  Too much rich food last night. Gods, I’m going to die.

  He felt an arm slide under his, hoisting him to his feet. Despite his muttered protests, Andrasta forced him to walk in circles.

  “Be quiet. Focus on your breathing,” she said. “Stopping, no matter how tired you are, will only make things worse.”

  Jahi winced with each step as lances of pain ran up his legs.

  “Give him some of this,” Jahi heard Rondel say.

  A skin of water touched his lips. He turned away as his stomach rolled. “No. I’ll just throw it up.”

  Andrasta grabbed his head and jerked it backward. “You need to drink. Do it slowly.”

  Jahi opened his mouth. A splash of cool water brushed across his lips and rolled down his throat. His stomach convulsed, but he managed to keep it down. He took a few more steps and was rewarded with another sip of water. The process repeated several more times until he felt better.

  Andrasta sat him next to a tree, then went to speak with Rondel in private. Eventually, she walked away into the woods. Rondel sat beside him.

  “Is something wrong?” asked Jahi.

  “We had a disagreement, but it’s been taken care of.” Rondel kneeled next to him. “I’m going to rub your legs to help with the soreness. You’re probably going to feel awful for several days, even at your age, but this will help.”

  Rondel’s knuckles massaged his legs with varying levels of intensity. Jahi bit his lip when it became too much, but refused to cry out.

  He suspected he had been the reason for the disagreement, and the last thing he wanted was to cause more problems. “It was about me, wasn’t it?”

  “Sort of. Andrasta has this bad habit of thinking that everyone can do what she does and with her level of skill. Don’t worry about it.”

  Jahi grimaced in frustration. “What are we going to do? Just hours into our journey and I’m useless. We’ll never catch up to Dendera like this.”